title: Massachusetts health reform: a public perspective from debate through implementation.
abstract: This study examines public opinion about the new health reform law in Massachusetts at four stages, from the beginning of the debate in September 2003 through June 2008, two years into implementation. We find that the favorable political environment in Massachusetts likely encouraged leaders to act and also contributed to the shape of the legislation as a "shared responsibility" compromise plan. Despite perceptions by some that the law is not helping the uninsured, support for it remains high-even for the individual mandate, the law's most controversial feature. There is little interest in repealing this legislation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. rblendon@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Blendon
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buhr
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D019472:Universal Health Insurance; D055815:Young Adult